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Strictly Come Dancing judges told bosses to axe Brendan Cole

Reports claim it was the Strictly Come Dancing judges who demanded professional dancer Brendan Cole should be dropped from the show.

Fans of the BBC series were left shocked when Brendan announced his departure from Strictly earlier this week, following 14 years of competing on the show. The 41-year-old professional dancer explained how bosses had made the “editorial decision” to not renew his contract for 2018.

However, it was allegedly judges Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonoili and new head judge Shirley Ballas who pushed the decision, threatening to walk from the show if Brendan stayed.

Reports state the judging panel refused to work with the dancer after their on-air argument with him last year.

“That was the moment when they decided they’d had enough. The judges felt he was putting her down publicly and he thought he knew better than the head judge. They thought it was totally disrespectful.”

Known for his feisty character on the show, Brendan became embroiled in a spat with judge Shirley in the latest series when she criticised his Tango. The argument quickly escalated, with Bruno accusing the contestant of being “disrespectful”.

The insider continued: “He sulked rather than apologised after the show.

“Everyone told him ‘Don’t bite the hand that feeds you’. But his stubbornness got the better of him.

“The judges and show bosses had to put up with a lot over the years, but doing it to Shirley was a step too far. It was after that moment that the judges said: ‘Off with his head’ They told bosses – it’s him or the show. They had simply had enough. And Brendan was the last to know.”

It is believed that Brendan took an immediate dislike to the new head judge when Len Goodman quit the show, as he himself had wanted to take over the role.

“He went for the role of judge but Shirley got it,” the source explained.